
"Big Ivan"- the world's largest nuclear bomb - http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Russia/TsarBomba1Big.jpg
Someday soon, war will be history. Your Bible makes that promise. Swords will be beaten into plowshares; nuclear bombs will be melted into playground equipment.
But guess what. That time of peace won’t be brought about through negotiations and treaties. It will come only after the King of kings returns and forces peace on mankind.
At this point in man’s history, there is no hope of peace. The nuclear club currently has nine states that have successfully detonated nuclear weapons. Five are considered to be “nuclear weapons states” (NWS), an internationally recognized status conferred by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In order of acquisition of nuclear weapons these are: the United States, Russia (successor state to the Soviet Union), the United Kingdom, France, and China.
Since the NPT entered into force in 1970, three states that were not parties to the Treaty have conducted nuclear tests, namely India, Pakistan, and North Korea. Israel is also widely believed to have nuclear weapons, though it has refused to confirm or deny this. [Calls for Olmert to resign after nuclear gaffe Israel and the Middle East | Guardian Unlimited“. Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1970616,00.html]
Now, according to Bloomberg, “Venezuela[n] President Hugo Chávez said the South American country plans to develop a nuclear energy program with Russia ….” Chávez discussed his nuclear ambitions with Vladimir Putin
during his visit to Russia last week.
But apparently there’s no reason to be worried about South America’s preeminent anti-American, terrorist-sponsoring nation acquiring nuclear technology: “We’re not going to make an atomic bomb,” Chávez said on state television last week. “We’re going to develop nuclear energy with peaceful purposes.” Well that’s a relief!
Then there are states alleged to have nuclear weapons programs or have been been accused by Israel or the United States of currently attempting to develop nuclear weapons technology.
- Iran – A U.S. National Intelligence Estimate of December 3, 2007 judged with “high confidence” that Iran had an active nuclear weapons program. And the Associated Press from September 17, 2009 year says: Experts at the world’s top atomic watchdog are in agreement that Tehran has the ability to make a nuclear bomb and is on the way to developing a missile system able to carry an atomic warhead, according to a secret report.
Iran makes no secret of the fact that it wants to be the preeminent power in the Middle East. Domestically, both conservatives and reformers support their country’s right to develop nuclear technology, and many Iranian military leaders see nukes as a necessary supplement to Iran’s less-advanced conventional forces, which have been hampered by U.S. sanctions.
Is Iran a warmongering nation? Listen to their rhetoric. Observe their actions, not just in terrorism and spreading fear and hatred the world over, but even within their own nation, in crushing dissent and trumping the rights of the populace. Of course they are a serious threat to world peace with such a devastatingly dangerous weapon.
Other Threats To World Peace
- Syria – on September 6, 2007, Israel bombed an officially unidentified site in Syria which it later asserted was a nuclear reactor under construction (see Operation Orchard) [6 September 2007 Air strike at globalsecurity.org.] The alleged nuclear reactor was not yet operational and no nuclear material had been introduced into it. Press reports indicated the air strike followed a shipment delivery to Syria by a North Korean freighter, and that North Korea was suspected to be supplying a reactor to Syria for an alleged nuclear weapons program. The White House briefed Congress and the IAEA on April 24, 2008, saying that the U.S. Government was “convinced” that Syria had been building a “covert nuclear reactor” that was “not intended for peaceful purposes.”[Statement by the Press Secretary]. Syria is closely watching developments in Iraq, Iran, and North Korea. If Iran and North Korea use the threat of nukes to deter the United States, Syria (which suspects it’s in the superpower’s cross hairs) may decide that it has little choice but to follow suit. Syrian leaders are also keeping a close eye on nuclear developments in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. If one or both nations go nuclear, Syria may decide to keep pace.
- Myanmar – a report in the `Sydney Morning Herald‘ and Searchina, a Japanese newspaper, reported two Myanmarese defectors saying that the Myanmar junta was secretly building a nuclear reactor and plutonium extraction facility with North Korea’s help, with the aim of acquiring its first nuclear bomb in five years. According to the report, “The secret complex, much of it in caves tunnelled into a mountain at Naung Laing in northern Burma, runs parallel to a civilian reactor being built at another site by Russia that both the Russians and Burmese say will be put under international safeguards.”[Searchina, “Reasons for digging tunnels in Burma”, August 11, 2009]
In 2002, Myanmar had notified IAEA of its intention to pursue a civilian nuclear programme. Later, Russia announced that it would build a nuclear reactor in Myanmar. There have also been reports that two Pakistani scientists, from the AQ Khan stable, had been dispatched to Myanmar where they had settled down, to help Myanmar’s project. During an ASEAN meeting in Thailand last week, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton highlighted concerns of the North Korean link. “We know there are also growing concerns about military cooperation between North Korea and Burma which we take very seriously,” Clinton said.[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/World/Rest-of-World/Myanmar-building-nuke-reactor-says-media-report/articleshow/4846971.cms]
The Next Nuclear States
Japan – it has twenty-three tons of weapons-usable plutonium and the ability to produce weapons-grade uranium without much trouble. Sometimes described as a “virtual” nuclear weapons state, Japan has one of the world’s largest and most advanced civilian nuclear programs. It could likely have nuclear weapons within a few months of deciding it wanted them. It is the only nation ever to have nuclear weapons used against it, Japan has long been staunchly anti-nuclear. But the country has also grown increasingly nervous about what it sees as deteriorating regional security. North Korea’s great leap may tip Japanese public opinion, and some politicians are calling for the country to debate openly whether it should have nukes. The country could withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty with three months’ notice by claiming its “supreme interests” are at risk.
Taiwan – as recently as the late 1980s, Taiwan was within a few years of becoming a nuclear-armed state. But the United States and others insisted it back down. Taiwan now has no uranium enrichment capability, and its sole facility for handling plutonium was torn apart. Its weapons-grade remnants likely include fewer than five pounds of plutonium and two tons of uranium. But its scientific know-how has probably survived. As the military balance between China and Taiwan tilts increasingly in the mainland’s favor, Taiwan could decide that it needs nukes to restore equilibrium fast. Like North Korea, Taiwan can argue that it faces an existential threat from a superpower.
Saudi Arabia -in 2003, members of the government stated that due to the worsening relations with the USA, Saudi Arabia was being forced to consider the development of nuclear weapons; however, so far they have denied that they are making any attempt to produce them.[Norris, Robert S. and Hans M. Kristensen. “Chinese nuclear forces, 2006,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 62:3 (May/June 2006): 60-63.]
In March 2006, the German magazine Cicero reported that Saudi Arabia had since 2003 received assistance from Pakistan to acquire nuclear missiles and warheads. Satellite photos allegedly reveal an underground city and nuclear silos with Ghauri rockets south of the capital Riyadh.[http://nuclearthreatinitiative.org/db/china/nfuorg.htm] Pakistan has denied aiding Saudi Arabia in any nuclear ambitions.[25]
Source: ForeignPolicy.com
Table of Global Nuclear Weapons Stockpiles, 1945-2002
End Year | US | SU | UK | FR | CH | Total |
1945 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 6 |
1946 | 11 | — | — | — | — | 11 |
1947 | 32 | — | — | — | — | 32 |
1948 | 110 | — | — | — | — | 110 |
1949 | 235 | 1 | — | — | — | 236 |
1950 | 369 | 5 | — | — | — | 374 |
1951 | 640 | 25 | — | — | — | 665 |
1952 | 1,005 | 50 | — | — | — | 1,055 |
1953 | 1,436 | 120 | 1 | — | — | 1,557 |
1954 | 2,063 | 150 | 5 | — | — | 2,218 |
1955 | 3,057 | 200 | 10 | — | — | 3,267 |
1956 | 4,618 | 426 | 15 | — | — | 5,059 |
1957 | 6,444 | 660 | 20 | — | — | 7,124 |
1958 | 9,822 | 869 | 22 | — | — | 10,713 |
1959 | 15,468 | 1,060 | 25 | — | — | 16,553 |
1960 | 20,434 | 1,605 | 30 | — | — | 22,069 |
1961 | 24,111 | 2,471 | 50 | — | — | 26,632 |
1962 | 27,297 | 3,322 | 205 | — | — | 30,823 |
1963 | 29,249 | 4,238 | 280 | — | — | 33,767 |
1964 | 30,751 | 5,221 | 310 | 4 | 1 | 36,287 |
1965 | 31,642 | 6,129 | 310 | 32 | 5 | 38,118 |
1966 | 31,700 | 7,089 | 270 | 36 | 20 | 39,105 |
1967 | 30,893 | 8,339 | 270 | 36 | 25 | 39,563 |
1968 | 28,884 | 9,399 | 280 | 36 | 35 | 38,633 |
1969 | 26,910 | 10,538 | 308 | 36 | 50 | 37,841 |
1970 | 26,119 | 11,643 | 280 | 36 | 75 | 38,153 |
1971 | 26,365 | 13,092 | 220 | 45 | 100 | 39,822 |
1972 | 27,296 | 14,478 | 220 | 70 | 130 | 42,193 |
1973 | 28,335 | 15,915 | 275 | 116 | 150 | 44,791 |
1974 | 28,170 | 17,385 | 325 | 145 | 170 | 46,195 |
1975 | 27,052 | 19,055 | 350 | 188 | 185 | 46,830 |
1976 | 25,956 | 21,205 | 350 | 212 | 190 | 47,913 |
1977 | 25,099 | 23,044 | 350 | 228 | 200 | 48,920 |
1978 | 24,243 | 25,393 | 350 | 235 | 220 | 50,441 |
1979 | 24,107 | 27,935 | 350 | 235 | 235 | 52,862 |
1980 | 23,764 | 30,062 | 350 | 250 | 280 | 54,706 |
1981 | 23,031 | 32,049 | 350 | 275 | 330 | 56,035 |
1982 | 22,937 | 33,952 | 335 | 275 | 360 | 57,859 |
1983 | 23,154 | 35,804 | 320 | 280 | 380 | 59,938 |
1984 | 23,228 | 37,431 | 270 | 280 | 415 | 61,623 |
1985 | 23,135 | 39,197 | 300 | 360 | 425 | 63,416 |
1986 | 23,254 | 40,723 | 300 | 355 | 425 | 65,056 |
1987 | 23,490 | 38,859 | 300 | 420 | 415 | 63,484 |
1988 | 23,077 | 37,333 | 300 | 410 | 430 | 61,549 |
1989 | 22,174 | 35,805 | 300 | 410 | 435 | 59,124 |
1990 | 21,211 | 33,417 | 300 | 505 | 430 | 55,863 |
1991 | 18,306 | 28,595 | 300 | 540 | 435 | 48,176 |
1992 | 13,731 | 25,155 | 300 | 540 | 435 | 40,161 |
1993 | 11,536 | 21,101 | 300 | 525 | 435 | 33,897 |
1994 | 11,012 | 18,399 | 250 | 510 | 450 | 30,621 |
1995 | 10,953 | 14,978 | 300 | 500 | 400 | 27,131 |
1996 | 10,886 | 12,085 | 300 | 450 | 400 | 24,121 |
1997 | 10,829 | 11,264 | 260 | 450 | 400 | 23,203 |
1998 | 10,763 | 10,764 | 260 | 450 | 400 | 22,637 |
1999 | 10,698 | 10,451 | 185 | 450 | 400 | 22,184 |
2000 | 10,615 | 10,201 | 185 | 450 | 400 | 21,851 |
2001 | 10,491 | 9,126 | 200 | 350 | 400 | 20,567 |
2002 | 10,640 | 8,600 | 200 | 350 | 400 | 20,190 |
US = United States, SU = Soviet Union/Russia, UK = United Kingdom, FR = France and CH = China |
Notes:
- US warhead estimates exclude a small number of warheads awaiting dismantlement and are accurate to within a few hundred warheads.
- SU/Russian warhead estimates exclude warheads awaiting dismantlement or in reserve status. The total number of intact warheads is estimated to be 18,000.
- UK and French stockpile estimates are believed to be accurate to within a few tens of warheads.
- Chinese warhead estimates are probably not accurate to better than 50 percent, due to the uncertainty in the number of tactical warheads.
- In addition to the above, Israel, India and Pakistan have nuclear arsenals, and South Africa produced six gun-assembly type weapons in the 1980s, but dismantled them in the early-1990s. Estimates of the composition and evolution of the arsenals of Israel, India and Pakistan are extremely difficult to make. Israel may have a stockpile of some 100-200 nuclear weapons, India 30-35, and Pakistan between 24 and 48 nuclear weapons.
“Not since the early days of the Cold War have proliferation experts and the general public been so attuned to the threat of nuclear weapons–and with good reason. There are more than 28,000 nuclear devices in existence today, more and more countries are acquiring the means to produce them, and there is mounting evidence that al Qaeda has every intention of using a nuclear weapon if only it can get its hands on one.
Once al Qaeda or another group possesses a weapon, deterring or preventing an attack will be all but impossible. Luck, as much as money and hard work, has helped prevent such an attack to date. A second, more complex danger stems from the proliferation of nuclear capabilities to governments. In the long term, the wider state acquisition of nuclear weapons dramatically increases the odds that one might be used, intentionally or not. This concern applies not only to so-called rogue regimes, but to key U.S. allies as well. Given the global insecurity of much weapons material, state proliferation also contributes to the risk of a nightmarish nuclear terrorism scenario.” [ForeighAffairs.com]
It is obvious we have a series of developments which not only show these weapons not going away, there are going to be a lot more of them. The world will democratize nuclear weapons as too many states go nuclear and all hopes of eliminating them will finish, despite the naive efforts of US President Barack Obama. That is what human nature is all about. The Bible says if Jesus Christ would not return, all life on earth would perish – largely due to nuclear detonation.
Thankfully, once Christ returns, neither America nor Afghanistan nor any other nation will have to wage another war, neither will there be any more threat of war. As the sun begins to set on the Feast of Trumpets this year (September 19, 2009), it is worthwhile to remember that this day commemorates the return of Jesus Christ to prevent man from obliterating all life on earth. God speed that day.